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Wednesday, 7 June 2017

In the Pink at RHS Chatsworth

When it comes to gardening pedigree, Chatsworth has it all. William Kent, Joseph Paxton and Capability Brown had a hand in its creation; it is, without question, a breathtaking setting for the newest RHS Show.

The Agriframes Garden

With two floral marquees, a conservatory, show gardens, a plant village and a floral installation by Jonathan Moseley on one of the three bridges, flowers take centre stage. Sam Ovens' Wedgwood Garden is a riot of colour set against purple beech hedging.

But if there is a colour trend, it has to be pink.

Paeonia lactiflora 'Bowl of Love'

Deutzia hybrida 'Tourbillon Rouge'(It looks pink to me!)

Dahlia MT New Pink Single

Pink on Tanya Batkin's Moveable Feast Garden

Even Mary Berry sports pink (accessorised with wellies).

Far be it from me to suggest that disused quarries are a trend, but since James Basson won best show garden at Chelsea with his abandoned quarry and Paul Hervey-Brookes has won best show garden for the IQ Quarry Garden at Chatsworth, we might be forgiven for thinking that old quarries are quite the thing for 2017.

Pink in The IQ Quarry Garden

Chatsworth's long horticultural history provides a strong foundation on which the RHS can build; and build it has. Bees in the twenty-first century, a bug hotel competition for schoolchildren, the RHS Garden for a Changing Climate and Tanya Batkin’s moveable garden for Generation Rent all point very firmly to the future.

Bug hotels in front of Chatsworth House

Past and future collide with memorable force in The Good Within Garden. The juxtaposition of this installation against the facade of Chatsworth House is unforgettable. The idea behind the garden is that we should look beyond exteriors. Young people, many of whom face difficulties as a result of their start in life, helped in its creation, including painting portraits of Joseph Paxton. Paxton came from humble beginnings and went on to design the Crystal Palace. It is difficult to imagine a more perfect setting to communicate this installation's powerful and optimistic message.

Similarly the placing of Behind the Scenes, which pays homage to gardening tasks and gardeners, could not be bettered.

The RHS Chatsworth Show is large and varied, but it isn’t too spread out. My gardening-averse family would certainly enjoy it. From a hydrogen car to eye-catching sculptures, with floral sheep and delicious fudge in between, they would all find something to spark their varied interests.

Will The RHS Chatsworth Show inspire future gardeners? I hope so. It has certainly inspired this present day one.

When I'm not gardening, writing about gardens, designing gardens, visiting gardens or reading about gardens, I can be found eating chocolate, drinking coffee and welcoming guests to our cottages in beautiful Norfolk.

Despite the awful weather, I still regret not being able to go to Chatsworth after all. Did you know the Duke of Devonshire pinched Paxton from the RHS? He spotted him working in the RHS garden next door when they were both based in Chiswick. He offered Paxton HG at Chatsworth and the rest is history.

I love all the pink, and I am sure this show planted a few seeds in the hearts of future gardeners! One of my earliest memories, at age three, is of a beautiful garden I was allowed to wander through. I have never forgotten it.

I enjoyed visiting Chatsworth in your posting, Sarah. Now, it's another place to add to my wish list. My flower colors go in phases. Right now it's purple and red with the alliums and peonies. I love pink and we'll be in that phase here soon. I'm sorry but I find those hands a bit creepy. Love the rest of the show, though. P. x

When I was in my teens, I lived in a house with a garden that changed colour with the seasons - it was so clever. I was thinking about it the other day as I have always wanted to replicate those colour shifts. I'm very impressed that your garden achieves this.

You would love Chatsworth, Pam - the surrounding countryside is beautiful. Happily for you, the hands are only temporary!

Yes, I did enjoy our introduction to Chatsworth. It seems that we have to suffer fashionable trends like used quarries and other bizarre garden designs, I mean, heaven forbid that a garden should look attractive. For instance Chris Beardshaw was turned down a gold whilst!!! I will say no more other than , love pink, blue,red,yellow-----

I guess it's because the judges have a strict set of criteria to which they must adhere, and plants are just part of that. I loved the quarry garden at Chelsea, but it caused such a backlash from many visitors that I can't wait to see if Chelsea 2018 brings an increase in the number of flower gardens!

It's inspired me, I would love to go to England just to see the gardens. I lived there in my 20s and visiting gardens simply never occurred to me, as a current or future interest. The hand sculpture are wonderful.

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About Me

When I'm not gardening, writing about gardens, designing gardens, visiting gardens or reading about gardens, I can be found eating chocolate, drinking coffee and welcoming guests to our cottages in beautiful Norfolk.